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Weddings
Up to 600 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Outdoor/Indoor
Clean Up
K
J
K

Recommended by 100% of couples

What is the story behind Gray Matter Museum of Art?

The Gray Matter Museum of Art

Welcome to The Gray Matter Museum of Art Exhibition at McGowan Hall, the non-profit organization’s new seaside boutique museum location and versatile venue space. Currently showcasing local artists and accepting private tours for 2027 and beyond. In today’s warmer climate, the young 10-year-old building comes complete with automated shades, AC and perfect acoustics! Designed especially for the arts and private events, this venue provides the perfect pairing of modern architecture and the arts, all defined by coastal living and expression. Whether you are hosting an intimate gathering or a large-scale celebration, the museum curates cutting-edge experiences within its ever-changing walls to stimulate your visual and creative expectations.

Facilities and Capacity

The modern indoor space features expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stunning panoramic ocean views, perfectly complemented by spacious wooden rafters. The well-designed layout includes glass doors that open to a wraparound terrace, creating a seamless flow for indoor and outdoor gatherings. Outside, the grounds are surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and stylish paved terraces. For seated ceremonies, the space ranges from 350 guests on the Ocean Terrace to 400 in the Main Gallery, while seated receptions with a dance floor can comfortably host up to 300 guests indoors and up to 300 guests outdoors without a dance floor. The indoor space has the ability to section off into 3 separate rooms for more intimate gatherings or open up to create one large room for larger guest counts.

Services Offered

To ensure your wedding day is a masterpiece, venue rentals come with a variety of premium amenities. You will receive a 30-minute ceremony rehearsal and access to a Green Room for dressing prior to the event. The museum provides designer furnishings for your use, including up to 100 clear acrylic ghost chairs, up to 30 round banquet tables, 2 custom bar fronts, a variety of rectangular dining tables, 48 Cabo Chairs, and seasonal sofas and ottomans for lounging. And keep an eye out for their Secret Garden and Greenhouse! Coming soon!

For exclusive information and personalized pricing tailored to your custom event needs, The Event Set is ready to assist you in curating your masterpiece!

Features

Veteran-owned

Woman-owned

Medium team (11-20 members)

Experience

  • 15 years in business

  • We speak English

Links

Visit website

What are Gray Matter Museum of Art's site fees and venue policies?

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$500

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$1,500

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Chairs
Parking
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Server(s)
Wedding Cake

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$18

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

House Wine
Signature Drink

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4

Describe your venue:

Art Gallery
Beach
Garden
Historic Building
Museum
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Family Style
French Service
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Aisle Markers
Aisle Runners
Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Centerpieces
Chairs
Chair Covers
Dance Floor
Decor
Drapery
Furniture
Lighting
Photo booth
Tables
Tents
Tent Accessories

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Shuttle
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
illustration question

Any other questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

What are real couples saying about their experience at Gray Matter Museum of Art in reviews?

K
Kenzie Sent on 10/02/2023
5 out of 5 rating

September wedding

I had my wedding at the Gray Matter museum. The event set and the whole staff made my day perfect! I originally was going to have the reception on the lawn and it started pouring and the whole staff moved the whole set up inside. All the chairs for the ceremony got wet and right before the ceremony they wiped down every chair. Marie made sure my day was perfect for me. Our photographer Shane was awesome! He made sure he got all the right photos with the right lighting. Our DJ Joey C played the music we wanted plus some other great dancing music.

The whole night Marie and Kelly kept making sure I have eaten, I drank water, made sure I had a drink if I needed one and I could not be more thankful for them
J
Justin Sent on 01/20/2021
5 out of 5 rating

A true masterclass in service!

My fiancee and I came across the Gray Matter Museum in Newport Beach and were blown alway by the level of service that was provided by the coordinator Adina. Planning a wedding during Covid is extremely stressful and Adina made the process ridiculously simple. From the moment we reached out to her regarding the availability of the venue, she was personable, kind and gracious with her time. She even went as far as to create extremely detailed custom proposals for us to review. The proposal had every minute detail that you can think of included in it. Adina was always available to field our many questions and her level of customer service and professionalism was above and beyond expectations. Not only is the gray matter museum location in Newport Beach, beautiful, clean and vibrant, it is elevated by the fact that Adina will literally walk you through a custom made all exclusive proposal that will cover every single nook and cranny that you can think of for your wedding. Adina is super flexible, a true pro, and extremely kind. A true pleasure to work with. Although we were not able to go with her venue (due to our very limited budget and covid related question marks), I would say that the pricing was fair and competitive from a market perspective. We were sad that we could not work with Adina but do recommend her highly. She is an absolute pleasure to work with, makes the planning process a breeze, cares deeply about her customers and is a true professional in every sense of the word. If you need a planner who truly cares and will move heaven and earth to simplify the wedding planning process for you, then Adina should be your choice. We thank you for your kindness, efforts, sincerity and helpfulness throughout the process!
K
Kelly Sent on 02/12/2015
5 out of 5 rating
When we decided we wanted to have a three month engagement, we were nervous we might not be able to find the type of venue we wanted in such a short amount of time. We knew we wanted an outdoor ceremony, and we wanted the reception to be remembered by our guests as something especially unique that represented us as a couple. We found the Gray Museum of Art on Wedding Wire, and we were thrilled to see that it had potential to be the perfect wedding spot for us. We called Adina from The Event Loft (the event planning company who works with the museum) and made an appointment to see the space the same day. As soon as we walked in, we knew it was the place we were going to have our wedding. The museum itself is beautiful; polished concrete floors, exposed ceilings, art covering the walls, a fireplace, and striking, modern touches throughout the entire space. Adina confirmed that they had our date available, and from that point forward, planning our wedding with her and her team was a breeze. The museum gave us the option to have our ceremony on the rooftop of the museum or in a nearby park (we opted for the park) and could easily accommodate our 100 person guest list. The day of our wedding, we were blown away by how beautifully everything came together. Our park ceremony was exactly what we had been dreaming of and the reception was absolutely breathtaking. The entire museum was candlelit and our guests sat family style at elegantly decorated tables. The food was delicious and the wait staff and bartenders were extremely friendly and efficient. All night our guests commented on how much they loved the museum, the food, and the ceremony location. We couldn’t have dreamed of a better experience while working with Adina and the museum. I would recommend this venue and Adina and her team to anyone planning a wedding. Our wedding was the absolutely the best day of our lives!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

What awards has Gray Matter Museum of Art won?

3
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Where is Gray Matter Museum of Art located?

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Gray Matter Museum of Art frequently asked questions

Gray Matter Museum of Art includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Parking
  • Tables
Gray Matter Museum of Art includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Server(s)
  • Wedding Cake
The bar service starting price at Gray Matter Museum of Art includes:
  • House Wine
  • Signature Drink
The space offered by Gray Matter Museum of Art for wedding events is known for:
  • Art Gallery
  • Beach
  • Garden
  • Historic Building
  • Museum
  • Waterfront
Gray Matter Museum of Art offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Gray Matter Museum of Art offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Gray Matter Museum of Art offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Gray Matter Museum of Art offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Aisle Markers
  • Aisle Runners
  • Altar/Arch
  • Audio Equipment
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Chair Covers
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Drapery
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Photo booth
  • Tables
  • Tents
  • Tent Accessories
Gray Matter Museum of Art is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
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